Making Chinese characters easy to write.

Sister Sites

Five Elements Test Chinese-Idioms.com

About•Privacy Policy•Terms of Service

DICTIONARY

Chinese Dictionary
Pinyin Index
Radical Index
Character Components
HSK Dictionary
Character Compare

DICTIONARY

Chinese Dictionary
Pinyin Index
Radical Index
Character Components
HSK Dictionary
Character Compare

TOOLS

Worksheet Generator
Worksheet Library
Writing Practice
Pinyin Converter
Chinese Name Generator
Zodiac Calculator
HSK Level Checker
Flashcards
Dictation Practice

TOOLS

Worksheet Generator
Worksheet Library
Writing Practice
Pinyin Converter
Chinese Name Generator
Zodiac Calculator
HSK Level Checker
Flashcards
Dictation Practice

LEARN

Learning Center
Blog
Chinese Stroke Rules
Chinese Poetry
Pro Membership ✨

LEARN

Learning Center
Blog
Chinese Stroke Rules
Chinese Poetry
Pro Membership ✨

© 2026 Hanzi Stroke. All rights reserved.

Made with♥for Chinese learners.

根 (gēn): Stroke Order, Meaning & How to Write | HSK 5

By CharacterBrowse all characters A-Z

HSK ListsAll HSK versions overview

HSK 2.0

Learn & Practice

Worksheet Generator

Learning Essentials

Home
Dictionary
根

根 (gēn): Root — Stroke Order & Writing Guide

HSK 2.0Level 5

By PinyinSearch by pronunciation

By RadicalFind by radical component

By ComponentsLearn meaning and sound clues

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6

HSK 3.0

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Level 7-9

Create practice sheets for free

Worksheet LibraryHSK, Top 100 & themed PDFs

Writing PracticePractice HSK and saved words

Dictation PracticeListen and write HSK characters

Flashcard ReviewSRS review for HSK and custom decks

HSK Level CheckerCheck HSK level of any text

Pinyin ConverterConvert Chinese to Pinyin

My Learning

Learning DashboardTrack your writing progress

My VocabularyReview saved words and lists

Fun & Culture

Name GeneratorCreate your Chinese name

8 Basic Strokes GuideHot

Foundation of all characters

Pinyin Tones Guide

4 tones with audio examples

Chinese Handwriting Guide

Daily practice routine

HSK 3.0 Complete GuideNew

New exam format explained

HSK 1 Common Mistakes

Avoid beginner errors

Topics & Culture

Chinese Numbers 1-1000

Count like a native

Time & Dates Guide

Tell time in Chinese

Family Members Guide

30+ family terms

2026 Fire Horse YearHot

Zodiac meaning & luck

Top 100 Characters

Most frequent, free PDF

View All Blog Posts

HSK 3.0Level 5

HSK 3.0:Recognition 3

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Vocab 5 Recognition 3

1.

Animated Stroke Order 根

Watch the stroke order, then trace it yourself.

How to write 根 — animated stroke order

338 learners practiced this

2.

Readings & Meanings

根has 2 distinct senses for the same pronunciation

gēn

root; descendants; completely; [measure word for long, slender objects]

root; descendants; completely; [measure word for long, slender objects]

n./mw.HSK 3.0 · L5

3.

Stroke Order Diagrams 根

根 stroke order diagram

4.

Character Breakdown

Left-Right

根

根=

5.

Printable Writing Worksheet: 根

根 handwriting practice worksheet preview

Download full HSK 3.0 Level 5 PDF pack

6.

How to Use 根

root and origin

根 + X

Words about origin, basis, and underlying cause.

根本 • gēn běn • root; basic; fundamental • HSK 5

HSK 5

7.

Example Sentences

wǒ我

men们

yào要

zhǎo找

dào到

wèn问

tí

Information

Pinyingēn

Meaningroot; descendants; completely; [measure word for long, slender objects]

Strokes10

Radical木

Traditional根

StructureLeft-Right

Frequency#516

Zhuyinㄍㄣ

UnicodeU+6839

CangjieDMMV

Zodiac CalculatorFind your zodiac animal

The foundational part of a tree (木), deep and firm like a limit (艮), anchoring it to the earth — root or origin.

gēn根

běn本

root; basic; fundamental

根源 • gēn yuán • source; origin; root • HSK 6

HSK 6

gēn根

yuán源

source; origin; root

根基 • gēn jī • Foundation / basis • HSK 3.0 · L7-9

HSK 3.0 · L7-9

gēn根

jī基

Foundation / basis

根治 • gēn zhì • To cure completely / to eradicate • HSK 3.0 · L7-9

HSK 3.0 · L7-9

gēn根

zhì治

To cure completely / to eradicate

Root in abstract reasoning

In fixed expressions, 根 (gēn) conveys the idea of a root, origin, or fundamental basis for abstract conclusions.

根据 • gēn jù • according to • HSK 3

HSK 3

gēn根

jù据

according to

归根到底 • guī gēn dào dǐ • in the final analysis; in the long run • HSK 6

HSK 6

guī归

gēn根

dào到

根深蒂固 • gēn shēn dì gù • ingrained; inveterate; deep-seated • HSK 6

HSK 6

gēn根

shēn深

dì蒂

gù

题

de的

gēn根

yuán源

。

We need to find the root cause of the problem.

Qǐng请

bǎo保

liú留

hǎo好

nǐ你

de的

piào票

gēn根

。

Please keep your ticket stub safe.

Qǐng请

gěi给

wǒ我

yì一

gēn根

xiāng香

jiāo蕉

。

Please give me one banana.

zhè这

ge个

wèn问

tí题

xū需

yào要

cóng从

gēn根

běn本

shàng上

jiě解

jué决

。

This problem needs to be solved fundamentally.

Zhè这

kē棵

shù树

yǐ已

jīng经

zài在

zhè这

lǐ里

shēng生

gēn根

le了

。

This tree has already taken root here.

dǐ

底

in the final analysis; in the long run

固

ingrained; inveterate; deep-seated

Related Characters

Explore characters by relationship

HSK Level 5

Characters from the same exam level.

甩shuǎito move backward and forward; to swing
税shuìtax; duty
撕sītear; rip
碎suìto break to pieces; smash; fragmentary
锁suǒlock
所suǒ[2nd syllable of many places]; [measure word for houses, buildings, institutions]

View all HSK 5 characters →

Same Sound

Characters pronounced "gen".

跟gēnwith

View all "gen" characters →

Same Radical

Characters with radical "木".

榻tàcot, couch, bed
桦huàtype of birch
檬méngtype of locust oracacia
桓huánvariety of tree; surname
札zháletter, note; correspondence
楞léngused for Ceylon in Buddhist texts

View all "木" radical characters →